Fascination or Fantasy

[Honeyroastedmelnut]

I live about an equal distance from Jacksonville and Charleston. I'm looking at a 5 day to the Bahamas so I need to decide on either the Fascination out of Jax or the Fantasy out of Charleston. Which would you choose and why?

[Fireman9302]

It woukd depend on the itinerary. ..I would pick the one that goes to a private island...Half moon cay or little stirrup

 

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[OCruisers]

Fascination has some balcony cabins.

On Fantasy you have to book a suite to get a balcony.

LuLu

[JustMeandeveryoneelse]

We live in Charleston and always drive to Jacksonville for the Fascination for these reasons:

 

1. Fascination has balcony cabins (they are less $ than the suites on the Fantasy)

2. We love the 5 day cruises to Half Moon Cay or Little Stirrup Cay

3. We have NO DESIRE to go to Freeport!

 

I'm still trying to find a cruise out of Charleston that fits for us....I will keep looking but in the meantime, it's the Fascination for us.

 

Enjoy your cruise!:)

[luverly]

I just got off the Fascination October 25th and I cruised on the Fantasy last year.. Fascination (Jacksonville) has a much easier and faster embarkation process. We waited in several lines for Fantasy, but breezed right through for Fascination, both times arriving at an early time. I like both ships (same layout mostly) but Fascination had better service over the Fantasy.

[Gamecock_Cruiser]

Both are nice ships. If you want a regular balcony cabin, then book the Fascination. If not, look and see which has the best price.

 

I really liked sailing down the St Johns river out of Jacksonville though. You have the bridge you go under, plus there is a lot of other scenery along the river.

[mouche]

Both are about the same, except as others have said you can get a balcony on the Fascination.:)

[Captain Carnival]

Fascination!

[PDsandman01]

Fascination. Better itinerary to private islands. Nobody wants to go to Freeport. Jacksonville is a great embarkation port.

 

We've driven the 6hrs to Jacksonville over the 3 to Charleston twice.

[The4Cruisers]

We prefer Fascination over Fantasy as well. I've never been on Fantasy, but she's not as equipped as Fascination.

 

Plus I understand that parking and getting on the ship is a heckuva lot easier to deal with in Jax compared to Charleston.

[skyeman27]

Ditto to the above post...

[skye02]

Jax port is the easiest to navigate by far, fascination cruises are less expensive (at least on my searches) and better itineraries.

[alabamaprincess]

Agreed the Fascination has a better itinerary, regular balconies and other upgrades not on the Fantasy. Also I have found it is usually not as expensive as the on the Fantasy when it comes to cruise fares.

[scooterpopsnana]

I live about an equal distance from Jacksonville and Charleston. I'm looking at a 5 day to the Bahamas so I need to decide on either the Fascination out of Jax or the Fantasy out of Charleston. Which would you choose and why?

 

We have a five hour drive to Charleston and a seven hour drive to Jacksonville. We have been on the Fantasy twice and the Fascination three times. I would do the Fascination. We do the Fascination on the five days. We would do it if it had a seven day. The Fantasy is okay and we are doing it in February simply because it is a 7 day. But, if the Fascination had a 7 day, hands down, we would be on it. We found the prices to be a lot cheaper on the Fascination, and it goes to the private islands.

Edited November 6, 2014 by scooterpopsnana

[Honeyroastedmelnut]

Thanks everyone. If my budget can swing it, my next cruise will be a 5 day on the Fascination.

[jenn-]

I just came off of the Fascination (like this morning) and service was wonderful. The ships are the same layout but if you want a balcony you need the Fascination. We are insiders though so that doesn't make a difference for me. Although it has been since 2009 when it was sailing out of Mobile (oh how I miss that port), I remember decent service on the Fantasy as well.